African Scenic Safaris: Advocating for Kilimanjaro’s Porters
(Drumroll please….) It’s time to meet the winner of GLP’s Sustainability Storytelling Competition (SSC) in the “Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism” category: African Scenic Safaris.
Founded in 2009, African Scenic Safaris is a sustainable tour operator based in Moshi, Tanzania, that specializes in personalized safari itineraries and ethical climbs. The company was founded on the principle of responsible tourism, especially as it applies to their employees. Their passion for social sustainability drove them to submit their story to GLP’s SSC, which offered them the perfect opportunity to highlight their mission to improve the working conditions for porters on Mt. Kilimanjaro.
In their submission, the tour company wrote: “The main problem we want to highlight is the exploitation and mistreatment of [the] mountain crew on Kilimanjaro. Many porters receive substantially less than the required minimum salary set by Kilimanjaro National Park. They might be given only one meal a day, pay a bribe to be chosen for a climb, not receive the tip amount intended for them, sleep in overcrowded tents, and/or be forced to carry cargo exceeding the park regulated 20 kgs per porter.”
In order to combat this exploitation, African Scenic Safaris partnered with Kilimanjaro Porter’s Assistance Project (KPAP), which ensures that porters are employed in fair conditions. KPAP provides adequate mountain equipment free of charge, quality sleeping conditions, three meals per day on the mountain, and fair compensation. They also promote and support women working as porters and guides, ensuring that they receive the same respect and treatment as their male colleagues.
This collaboration not only supports local communities, but also provides ethical, enjoyable, and successful climbs for guests. In fact, African Scenic Safaris proudly promotes their collaboration with KPAP to their guests with the hope to inspire other companies to follow similar ethical practices.
“With our story we want to educate both companies and guests and solve the problem of ‘forced’ and underpaid labor,” notes the tour company. “We are proud that all our climbs have a positive impact on local people’s lives while delivering a high-quality climb to our guests. We hope that, in the future, all guides, chefs, and porters will receive the respect they deserve for their hard work on the mountain.”
Learn more about African Scenic Safaris by checking out their new video below:
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